Portable flare



Dec. 17, 1963 o. M. SHATTUCK PORTABLE FLARE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 11, 1962 INVENTOR.

Owen/MSW FMZ W 80160? W ATTORNEYS Dec. 17, 1963 o. M. SHATTUCK PORTABLE FLARE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 11, 1962 III II II lllllllvuz INVENTOR. OwenM. Swim; F WJ M ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,114,936 PQRTABELE FLARE Gwen M. Shattuek, 1'74 Sherriclr Drive SE, Canton,

(Ohio, assignor of one-third to Frank S. Hertzig, one

sixth to Frank Howard, Era, and one-sixth to Myron W.

Nixon, all of Canton, @hio Filed May 11, 1962., tier. No. 193,959 7 Claims. ii. 340-321) The invention relates to portable flares or warning lights for use upon the highways as a warning to oncoming trafiic of danger in the event of a traffic accident or other emergency.

More particularly, the invention relates to such a portable flare of compact form having two spaced light bulbs which are alternately flashed on and oil, giving the appearance of a light swinging backward and forward.

It is an object of the invention to provide a compact portable flare of the character referred to.

Another object of the invention is to provide such a flare having light bulbs at opposite ends and provided with a unit which alternately closes a circuit to one bulb and opens the circuit to the other bulb.

A further object of the invention is to provide a portable flare of this type which may be operated by conventional flashlight batteries or the like.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a portable flare of the character referred to in which the unit for alternately flashing the lights comprises an oscillating, spring-loaded wheel, controlled by a magnet, for

alternately closing and opening the circuits to the light bulbs.

Another object of the invention is to provide such a portable flare in which the batteries and unit are located in an elongated housing similar to a conventional flash light, with a lamp bulb at each end of the housing.

A further object of the invention is to provide a portable flare of this type with means for converting the same into a flashlight when desired.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a device of the character referred to in which the unit may be operated by a bi-metal member.

Another object of the invention is to provide such a bimetal operated thermo unit for use as a circuit breaker.

The above and other objects, apparent from the drawings and following description, maybe attained, the above described ditliculties overcome and the advantages and results obtained, by the apparatus, construction, arrangecuts and combinations, sub'combinations and parts which comprise the present invention, a preferred embodiment of which, illustrative of the best mode in which applicant has contemplated applying the principle, being set forth in detail in the following description and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which;

PEG. 1 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view through one embodiment of the portable flare to which the invention pertains;

FIG. 2 is a transverse sectional view thereof;

FIG. 3 is a diagram of the unit which controls the circuits to the light bulbs;

FIG. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view through another modification of the portable flare, enclosed in a housing similar to a flashlight;

FIG. 5 is a similar view of another embodiment of the invention in which the flare may be converted into a flashlight;

FIG. 6 is a diagram of a thermo unit for control-ling the flare circuits;

FIG. 7 is a detached perspective view of the bi-metal member showing the means for regulating the amount of current carried in a circuit; and

3,114,9s6 Patented Dec. 17, 1963 FIG. 8 shows the thermo unit used as a circuit breaker.

Referring now more particularly to the embodiment of the invention disclosed in FIGS. 1 to 3, the flare is shown contained within a portable housing indicated generally at .1, having a rectangular lower portion 2 within which the battery 3 is located, and the upper portion 4, triangular in cross section.

A pair of lenses 55a., preferably red, are located in each inclined side wall of the upper portion 4 of the housing, and a spaced pair of lamp bulbs 6-611 are located therein, and so positioned that each lamp bulb will be visible through corresponding lenses in opposite side walls.

The lamp bulbs 6 and 6a are adapted to be: alternately lighted, that is as one bulb is lighted the other bulb is shut off, giving the appearance of a light being swung back and forth. This is accomplished by means of a flasher unit located in the electric circuit etween the battery 3 and the light bulbs 6 and 6a.

This flasher unit is indicated generally at 7 in the drawings, and is shown diagrammatically in FIG. 3. The flasher unit comprises a magnetic coil d, wound upon the core 9, and adapted to attract the armature it} hinged at 11.

A contact point 12 is connected to the free end of the armature 1t) and adapted to contact the contact point 13 upon the oscillating wheel 14. The wheel 14 is mounted upon shaft 15 to which the coil spring is is attached. A spring adjuster '17 is rotatably adjustably mounted upon the shaft 15 for adjusting the spring 16.

A conductor wire 13 leads from the positive side of the battery 3 to the switch 19, the blade of which is adapted to contact the fixed contact 2t} connected to one end of the wire 21, the other end of which is connected to the spring adjuster 17.

Wire 22 is connected to the negative side of the battery 3 and leads to one end of the magnetic coil 8, the other end of which is connected by wire 23 to the hinged end light bulb 6 to flexible contact 27 and through light bulb (in to flexible contact 28.

Contact 29 is fixed upon the shaft 15 and adapted to alternately contact the flexible contacts 27 and 28. With the switch 19 closed, current passes from the battery 3 through conductor 18, switch 19, conductor 21 to spring adjuster 17, to the spring 16, to the shaft 15, through contact points 13 and 12, through armature id, conductor 23, magnetic coil 3 and conductor 22 to the other side of the battery 3.

The coil 8 or" the magnet is thus energized, creating magnetic lines of force in a direction which will cause the armature l t to travel toward the core 9. This sudden movement of the armature causes the wheel M to oscillate in the direction of the arrow in FIG. 3.

As the wheel starts to oscillate in this direction, the contact 29 upon the shaft 15 moves out of contact with the flexible contact 28, thus breaking the circuit to the light bulb 6a.. The contact 29 upon the shaft then contacts the flexible contact 27 closing the circuit to the light bulb 6.

It will be seen that the circuit through the light bulb 6 is then from the positive side of the battery through conductor 18, switch 19, conductor 21, spring adjuster 17, spring 16, shaft 15, contact 29, flexible contact 27, conductor 25 through filament of light bulb 6 and conductors 24 and 22 to the negative side of the battery.

The wheel 14 oscillates in this direction until the spring 16 overcomes the momentum of the wheel, causing it to rotate in the opposite direction. As the wheel is thus oscillated in the opposite direction, contact 29 upon the shaft breaks contact with the flexible wire 26 leads 3 contact 27, thus breaking the circuit to the light bulb 6, and as the wheel continues to travel in this direction, the contact 29 upon the shaft contacts the flexible contact 28 closing the circuit to the light bulb The wheel continues to oscillate in this direction until the contacts 13 and 12 are closed, again closing the circuit to the magnetic coil 8 and causing the armature to move down toward the core and this operation will be repeated continuously so long as the switch 1) remains closed.

As the wheel is thus continuously oscillated, first in one direction and then in the other direction, the circuits to the light bulbs (i and do will be alternately opened and closed, alternately lighting each light bulb and shutting oif the other so as to give the appearance of a light being swung horizontally from one position to another.

In FIG. 4 is shown an embodiment of the invention in which the batteries, flasher unit and light bulbs are located in a tubular housing similar to a conventional flashlight housing. This housing is indicated generally at 1a, and conventional flashlight batteries 3a are shown therein and adapted to be connected in circuit to the flasher unit, indicated generally at 7a, which may be of the same construction and arrangement as shown in FIG. 3.

The light bulbs, indicated generally at 6 and 6a are adapted to be alternately lighted in the manner above described when the circuit to the flasher unit is closed by the switch 190. Each of the light bulbs is preferably housed within a dome 3% formed of red glass, translucent plastic or the like.

In FIG. 5 is shown a slight modification of the embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 4. In this form of the invention the flare is housed in a tubular housing similar to a flashlight housing and is so constructed that the flare light at one end of the housing may be removed and replaced in such position that the device may be used as a conventional flashlight.

The tubular metal housing, as indicated generally at lb, contains the conventional flashlight batteries 3b and flasher unit 722 which may be the same as shown in FIG. 3.

The light bulb 6a" and red translucent dome 301; at one end of the housing may be the same as shown in FIG. 4. The light bulb 6 and red translucent housing b at the other end of the housing are formed in a removable unit 31 having flashlight bulb 32 and reflector 33 therein.

This unit may be removed from the housing and replaced therein with the flashlight bulb 32 and reflector 33 exposed, as shown in PEG. 5, or this end of the unit may be inserted into the enlarged end 34 of the housing and the flare bulb 6 and red translucent dome 30b may be exposed.

In FIG. 6 is shown a modified form of flasher unit which may be located in the circuit between the battery and the light bulb of the flare. The battery is indicated generally at 3a. The light bulbs are indicated at 6" and 611".

Conductor 35 leads from the positive side of the battery 3a to flexible conductor 36 which is connected to contacts 37 and 38 on opposite sides of the free end of the bi-metal strip 39.

Movable contact 37 is adapted to contact the fixed contact 40 upon conductor frame 41, which is connected to wire 42 leading through light bulb 641" to conductor 43 which leads to the negative side of the battery.

Movable contact 33 is adapted to contact fixed contact 44 upon conductor frame 45, which is connected to wire 46 leading through light bulb 6 to wire 43 and then to the negative side of the battery.

In the position shown in FIG. 6, a circuit from the battery 3a is closed through the light bulb 6. As the bi-netal strip 39 flexes in the opposite direction it will break contact between the contacts 38 and 44, shutting off the light bulb 6" and will make contact between the contacts 37 and ill closing the circuit from the battery through the light bulb ea.

As the bi-metal strip 39 continues to flex in opposite directions the light bulbs will be alternately lighted and extinguished. It will be noted that the contact 37 is insulated from the thermal unit or bi-metal strip 39, by the insulation block 47.

Switch 1) is located between the positive side of the battery and the conductor 35. When the switch 19' is closed, the current passes from the positive side of the battery 3a through switch 19, conductor 35, through bimetal strip 39, through contacts 33 and 44, conductor 45, wire 46, light bulb 6 and conductor 43 to the negative side of the battery 3a, thus lighting the light bulb 6".

As the current flows through the bi-metal strip 39, this bi-metal strip being of a proper resistance whereby the amount of current consumed by the filament in light 6 will cause the bi-metal strip to bow, breaking the contact between 38 and 44 and closing the contact. between 37 and 4t).

The current will then pass from the positive side of the battery through switch 1?, conductor flexible conductor 36, contacts 37 and 4t), conductor frame ill, conductor 42, through filament of light bulb 651" and conductor 43 to the negative side of the battery.

Thus as the circuit to the light bulb 6 is opened, the circuit to the light bulb tia is closed, and vice versa. As the bi-rnetal strip 39 cools it will ove back to the normal position, breaking the contact between 37 and 40 thus opening the circuit to the light bulb 661" and closing the contact between 38 and 54, thus closing the circuit to the filament of the light bulb 6". This action will continue so long as the switch 19 is closed, thus alternately lighting each light as the other light is shut off in the same manner as above described.

In FIG. 7 is shown means for regulating the amount of current desired to be carried in any circuit. This comprises the adjustable member s7 slidably movable upon the bi-metal strip 39. The circuit wire 35 is attached to the adjustable member 47, and a set screw 48 or equivalent means may be provided for locking the slidable member 4-7 in adjusted position upon the bi-metal strip 39. The resistance of the strip 39 may thus be changed, thereby changing the amount of current necessary for opening and closing the circuit in which the bi-metal strip 39 is located.

In FIG. 8 is shown a diagram of the thermo unit u as a circuit breaker. The bi-metal strip 39a is connected by wire 35a to positive side of battery or the like. Contact 3301 upon the end of the bi-metal member 39a is adapted to contact with fixed contact 4 4a on conductor frame 45a. Wire -i-ba is connected to traff c 45a and leads through the desired circuit to negative side of battery.

Contact 37a is insulated from end of bi-metal strip 3% by insulation 47a which extends beyond end of strip 39a. Flexible wire Bea converts conductor 35a to mov able contact 37a. Fixed contact 40a is mounted upon conductor frame 45a, and wire 49 leads therefrom through visible and/or audible signals 5t and 51 to negative side of battery.

Spring-loaded latch members 52 may be pivoted as at 53 on any stationary portion of frame or the like, and angular arm 54 thereof may be contacted by adjusting screw 55.

Assuming the contacts 38a and 44a to be closed in the normal position of the bi-metal strip 39a, the circuit 46a: would be closed. If the current passing through the bimetal strip Ski should heat the bi-metal strip sufliciently that it would bow, the movable contact 38a would be moved away from the fixed contact Mia, as shown in FIG. 8, breaking the circuit through 46a.

As the movable contact 37a contacts the fixed contact 40a, the circuit is closed through the visible and audible signals 50 and 51, giving warning that the circuit through 46a is broken. At the same time, the extension on the insulation block 47:: will be engaged by the latch 52, holding the circuit closed through the warning signals 50 and 51, until the latch 52 is manually released and the bimetal strip is returned to normal position, closing the circuit through 46a.

In the foregoing description, certain terms have been used for brevity, clearness and understanding, but no unnecessary limitations are to be implied therefrom beyond the requirements of the prior art, because such words are used for descriptive purposes herein and are intended to be broadly construed.

Moreover, the embodiments of the improved construction illustrated and described herein are by way of example, and the scope of the present invention is not limited to the exact details of construction.

Having now described the invention or discovery, the construction, the operation, and use of preferred embodiments thereof, and the advantageous new and useful results obtained thereby; the new and useful construction, and reasonable mechanical equivalents thereof obvious to those skilled in the art, are set forth in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A portable flare including a tubular, cylindrical, standard flashlight housing, a lamp bulb located at each end of the housing, a source of electric energy within the housing, an electric circuit including conductor means connecting one side of said source of electric energy to both of said lamp bulbs, and a bimetal strip in said circuit for alternately connecting each of said lamp bulbs with the other side of said source of electric energy for alternately lighting each lamp bulb and simultaneously shutting ofl the other lamp bulb.

2. A portable flare as defined in claim 1, in which a removable reversible device at one end of the tubular housing includes a flare bulb on one end and a conventional flashlight bulb on the other end.

3. A portable flare as defined in claim 1, in which one side of the circuit is connected to the bi-metal strip by an adjustable member for changing the resistance of the bi-metal strip.

4. A portable flare including a tubular, cylindrical, standard flashlight housing, a lamp bulb located at each end of the housing, a source of electric energy within the housing, a normally open electric circuit including conductor means connecting one side of said source of electric energy to both of said lamp bulbs, a bimetal strip in said circuit for alternately connecting each of said lamp bulbs with the other side of said source of electric energy for alternately lighting each lamp bulb and simultaneously shutting off the other lamp bulb and a manually operable switch in said circuit.

5. A portable flare including a tubular, cylindrical,

standard flashlight housing, a lamp bulb located at each end of the housing, a source of electric energy within the housing, an electric circuit including conductor means connecting one side of said source of electric energy to both of said lamp bulbs, a flasher unit in said housing and including a bimetal strip connected at one end to the other side of said source of electric energy, a spaced pair of fixed contacts, conductor means connecting each fixed contact to one of said lamp bulbs, and contact means on the other end of said bimetal strip for alternately contacting each of said fixed contacts for alternately lighting each lamp bulb and simultaneously shutting off the other lamp bulb.

6. A portable flare including a tubular, cylindrical, standard flashlight housing, a lamp bulb located at each end of the housing, a source of electric energy within the housing, a normally open electric circuit including conductor means connecting one side of said source of electric energy to both of said lamp bulbs, a flasher unit in said housing and including a bimetal strip connected at one end to the other side of said source of electric energy, a space pair of fixed contacts, conductor means connecting each fixed contact to one of said lamp bulbs, contact means on the other end of said bimetal strip for alternately contacting each of said fixed contacts for alternately lighting each lamp bulb and simultaneously shutting off the other lamp bulb and a manually operable switch in said circuit.

7. A portable flare including a tubular, cylindrical, standard flashlight housing, a lamp bulb located at each end of the housing, a source of electric energy within the housing, an electric circuit including conductor means connecting one side of said source of electric energy to both of said lamp bulbs, a flasher unit in said housing and including a bimetal strip connected at one end to the other side of said source of electric energy, a spaced pair of fixed contacts, conductor means connecting each fixed contact to one of said lamp bulbs, contact means on one side of the other end of said bimetal strip for contacting one of said fixed contacts, and contact means on the other side of said other end of said bimetal strip and insulated therefrom form contacting the other fixed contact for alternately lighting each lamp bulb and simultaneously shutting off the other lamp bulb.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

1. A PORTABLE FLARE INCLUDING A TUBULAR, CYLINDRICAL, STANDARD FLASHLIGHT HOUSING, A LAMP BULB LOCATED AT EACH END OF THE HOUSING, A SOURCE OF ELECTRIC ENERGY WITHIN THE HOUSING, AN ELECTRIC CIRCUIT INCLUDING CONDUCTOR MEANS CONNECTING ONE SIDE OF SAID SOURCE OF ELECTRIC ENERGY TO BOTH OF SAID LAMP BULBS, AND A BIMETAL STRIP IN SAID CIRCUIT FOR ALTERNATELY CONNECTING EACH OF SAID LAMP BULBS WITH THE OTHER SIDE OF SAID SOURCE OF ELECTRIC ENERGY FOR ALTERNATELY LIGHTING EACH LAMP BULB AND SIMULTANEOUSLY SHUTTING OFF THE OTHER LAMP BULB. 